Taurus02

I am no car person but I know there is a problem with something when my car squeals like a family of birds are being put through the shredder. It happens whether the air conditioner is on or off. It isn't specific to acceleration. It happens for a few days at a time and then goes away for a few days. Recently, my car has died twice at a stop. Does anyone know what this is and if it can be repaired by me without having to have it professionally serviced?? Please help!!!

Johnny Mullet

Is the check engine light on?

Next time it squeals, turn off the engine and spray the belt with some kind of lube or dressing. If that is not it, then carefully listen for where the sound is from. If it sounds like it is coming trans side of the engine, then it may be the cam syncronizer bearing going bad. This goes down through the engine like a distributer would and the whole unit needs replaced along with the sensor.

Taurus02

The check engine light has come on before but never caused the car to die. When the car has died recently, the engine light did come on, but so did every other light. What kind of cost are we talking to replace what you said it could be.....how to be sure that it is that (other than taking to a professional)? Any other symptoms that go along with that???

RckyMtnTaurus

Mine has a squeak that sounds like the fan belt or maybe a pulley is going. It only does it when its damp out. When its dry there is no noise. I tried changing my idler pulley, but that didn't help. I picked up a new belt, but have yet to put it in.

Xeclevo51

Hi

Sounds like you may have a sticky air con compressor. If it siezes, it wont matter whether its on or off. Check the pulleys while its sqealing. The one not moving is causing the issue. The engine will die at low rpm due to the extra effort to turn the belt.

Hope it helps

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Johnny Mullet

Pinpoint the noise. It either is coming from the belt area or the opposite side of the engine above the transmission.

Get that CEL scanned and post the code here. That code may be related to the synchro if I guessed your noise correctly.

SHOZ123

The belt is bad and the Gatorback belts make noise new if you got one of those.

SHOZ123

Might be an idler or tensioner pulley. You need to get the belt off and spin the pulleys by hand.

Taurus02

Okay.... so I haven't done anyhting with it this last weekend because no squeal but it started again this morning like clockwork. The only belt in view is the one right on top on the left side of engine. Where are the others I am being told about? Also, does anyone know where the codes can be read for small or no fee??? How do I see if a certain belt isn't moving....the one on top works and moves great. Any others are under the engine???Please help me locate!!

tbird100636

Yeah, I had a bad experience with a customer's car that had a fresh set of Goodyear Gatorbacks on it. CHIRPED AND SQEALED LIKE HELL!!! As soon as I put on a factory original Mopar Belt, noise gone. Gates and Dayco seem to be good aftermarket belts in my experience.

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Master ASE Certified L1 Chrysler Technician- still a Ford fan at heart.
1964 Thunderbird Hardtop- Chantily Beige- 390 FE 4V V8-Uncle's Car
1966 Thunderbird Convertible- Red- 390 FE 4V V8- Uncle's other car- waiting for paint and body work!!!
1967 Mustang Convertible- Blue- 289 V8- helping a friend re-assemble this classic